Allowing natural light into your home can help lower your heating bills. With the blinds open, you can enjoy the view and leave your electric lights turned off. However, there are times when you need to keep light out so you can rest or reduce the temperature of your home. Here are some things you should consider when buying blinds to control light in your home.
Blackout Shades
Installing blackout shades will require careful measuring and cutting. Though blinds can be mounted above the window, blackout shades need to fit inside the casing. While regular blinds are constructed of materials that block up to 95 percent of the light that can come in, blackout shades eliminate 100 percent of the light. Blackout window shades have a lot of benefits beyond blocking light from outside. They can provide you with the best privacy options, and they’re a great addition to a bedroom or home theater.
Cellular Shades
Cellular shades offer privacy and excellent light filtering capacities. In addition, cellular shades provide great thermal protection against bright sunlight and cold winter air. Because they are fabric, you can find cellular shades in a wide variety of colors, so your decorating options are wide open. They work best when mounted inside the window, close to the frame. If you do require blackout shades, cellular shades can be constructed from blackout fabric.
How They Fit Is the Key
When purchasing blinds, carefully consider your mounting options. Blinds mounted above the window will offer more flexibility, but you will never get a good room-darkening fit until you find a way to set the blinds within the frames. Depending on the age of your home, you may struggle to find blinds that fit properly. It may also be a struggle to find a mounting point for the blinds. If you find that your room-darkening or blackout blinds leave a gap, you may need to add a side drape to the window treatment. Be aware that cellular shades can be found in single-cell and double-cell blackout fabrics. If you work nights and must have a dark bedroom, fit and material construction are critical to furnishing your windows.
Quality blinds are available in a variety of colors, light-blocking capacities and materials. No matter which material or configuration you choose, the fit and installation are critical to getting a good light seal. Measure the window frame carefully, and be aware that the manufacturers will adjust the blind size to give you some wiggle room. To guarantee a good fit, pay particular attention to the dimensions.
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